Manchester United ‘tracked Julian Alvarez last year’ before he joined rivals Man City

Manchester United were reportedly interested in signing Julián Álvarez before the Argentine striker completed his move to Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s team announced the signing of the 22-year-old on the day of the January transfer window deadline of last year for a fee of £14m.

Álvarez, who last month won the World Cup with Argentina, could have been playing for Manchester’s red half if they had moved.

Manchester City star Julian Alvarez has also been the subject of interest from rivals Man United

As reported by the Athleticthe Red Devils ‘followed’ Álvarez before the move to Man City was confirmed.

However, they “pulled the drawbridge” into motion when Ralf Rangnick was in interim charge after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in November 2021.

Álvarez, after spending the second half of last season on loan at River Plate, joined Man City in the summer and has scored eight goals in 22 appearances.

He also scored four goals for Argentina on their way to World Cup victory, including two in the semi-final against Croatia.

Manchester United withdrew from contention for the Argentine striker when Ralf Rangnick (pictured) was put in interim charge of the Red Devils after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

As reported by sky sports in May, Rangnick named Álvarez when discussing strikers United could have signed last January.

Rangnick revealed that their last attempts to sign a striker in January were rejected by the club’s board, leaving them with no attacking options in the second half of the season.

He said: ‘The answer at the time was no, there was no player on the market who could really help us, there were some, (Luis) Díaz, who is now at Liverpool, Álvarez, who will be at Manchester City in the summer, ( Dusan) Vlahovic, who was still with Fiorentina at the time, those are just three that come to mind now.

The Athletic report also stated that a move for Cody Gakpo was ruled out shortly before Christmas.

Owner Joel Glazer “had made it clear” in the summer that spending over £200m on players would affect his winter business.

Pep Guardiola’s team were able to sign Álvarez, who has made an impressive start at the Etihad

They were therefore unable to put together the Gakpo move, allowing the striker to move to Liverpool for a £44m deal.

Instead, United boss Erik ten Hag is resorting to having to bring in a player on loan.

United are still hoping to sign Wout Weghorst despite Besiktas refusing to break his loan deal from Burnley.

United are in talks with Burnley to sign Weghorst until the end of the season, and the Dutch striker has made it clear that he wants to move to Old Trafford.

But Besiktas will only agree to finish the 30-year-old’s loan spell in Turkey for the right price, and dismissed suggestions it can be shortened by £2m as ‘fictitious’.